Food Wars, My Dishes Don't Just Shine

　As a master chef, she has a complete evaluation system in her mind. Once she has made up her mind, she will not change her mind because of a few words from others.

　"That's right! This dish is not only incredibly creative, but also tastes outstanding. The key is its unique molecular gastronomy technique, which completely overturned my understanding of traditional whole grain dishes. This is quite rare in the Young Chef Competition."

　Zhang Zhong nodded in deep agreement. Innovation is the key to excellent cuisine. It seems that this old man also needs to hurry up and learn new things, lest he be eliminated by the tide of the times in the future.

　This molecular gastronomy looks quite interesting.

　"Now, judges, please choose your supporters. The one with the most votes will advance to the semi-finals!"

　Seeing that the atmosphere was just right, the host's voice rang out, captivating everyone present.

　"Ah."

　Upon hearing the host's voice, the judges exchanged glances, ceased their discussion, and simultaneously pressed the buttons in front of them, selecting the chefs they approved of.

　The final score appeared quickly on the big screen.

Chapter 262 The Winner: Alice Nakiri's Home Ground!

　Soma Yukihira VS Nagi

　0:3

　"The winner is Nagi!"

　As the final score was displayed on the big screen, the host's passionate voice rang out, and his body trembled slightly with excitement.

　"Wow!"

　"Molecular gastronomy is amazing!"

　"What an exciting competition! I never expected that molecular gastronomy would win in the end. This groundbreaking product is sure to be a huge hit in the future."

　"0:3, this is an absolute stomp!"

　Looking at the numbers on the big screen and feeling the host's high spirits, a discussion immediately broke out in the room, and the temperature around them gradually rose as everyone debated, all thanks to their passion for cooking.

　"It may seem like a crushing victory, but the actual gap isn't that big. It's just that Yukihira handled one aspect very poorly, which is why it appears to be a crushing victory."

　Bai Yuan's voice rang out, and he calmly looked at the two people in the arena with a wise and composed demeanor.

　On the surface, Erina Nakiri won 3-0, but the truth is not so.

　Which step was handled poorly?

　"Because we were quite far apart, I could only judge by the aroma of the food."

　Yukihira's dishes are enormous, requiring a lot of time to prepare. This results in some parts being done well while others are only so-so. A single dish has parts at the peak of Grade 1 cuisine and parts at the initial stage of Special Grade cuisine, representing two different levels. Therefore, the final flavor is somewhat unbalanced.

　Seeing that Yoshino Yuuki and the others were somewhat

　Puzzled, Bai Yuan looked at Yukihira Soma's steamer and analyzed it.

　Some parts of that dish end up being eaten by no one; these are the lower-grade and less tasty parts of the pasta dishes.

　"In other words, Soma Yukihira chose the big picture but neglected the details. The focus of the dish was only on a small part, which led to an imbalance in the overall taste of the dish."

　Alice Nakiri added from the side, "This dish is good in every way, except for its lack of refinement."

　"So that's the reason for his failure?"

　Upon hearing their explanations, the three members of Polaris Dormitory murmured to themselves.

　Among them, the three of them had the best relationship with Yukihira Soma, and naturally they cared about his wins and losses.

　"That's just one reason. In fact, even if Yukihira performs perfectly, there's still a 90% chance he'll lose, since there's a fundamental difference in their culinary skills."

　Bai Yuan revealed the cruel truth.

　Soma Yukihira's idea was excellent. He used the scenery of the upper reaches of the Yellow River to concretize the theme of national peace and prosperity, and then made a point of the dough color and filling to express his attitude, perfectly expressing this theme.

　But now it's a cooking competition.

　If both sides have valid themes, the final winner will be determined by the taste of the dishes.

　Erina Nakiri has recently undergone special training, which has greatly improved her sense of smell.

　In terms of cooking, this means a more precise grasp of flavor. Coupled with my good form during the competition, the dishes I served this time were already at the level of a top-tier one-star dish.

　"In that case, Yukihira would be like an ant trapped in a spider web, unable to break free no matter how hard he struggles, and all his efforts would be in vain..."

　Thinking of this, a touch of sadness appeared in Yoshino Yuuki's eyes. Who knows who she was thinking of as she looked at Yukihira Soma's lonely figure?

　"How could it be in vain? By giving your all time and time again and constantly striving, you can improve your culinary skills until you transform into a true master."

　Hearing Yoshino Yuuki's words and sensing her pessimism, Bai Yuan raised his hand and gently tapped her head.

　Effort is never in vain. Even if it doesn't show results in the short term, it will gradually come to life over the countless days and nights that follow.

　It's like planting a seed in spring. You won't see any changes in a short time, but once autumn comes, it will take root and sprout, gradually growing into a towering tree.

　"I see..."

　Yoshino Yuuki seemed to understand only part of what she was saying, but she nodded seriously and then lowered her head to think.

　Effort cannot be transformed into strength immediately; it requires the tempering of time. This is the point where so many people give up.

　If you can understand it, you can soar to great heights; if you can't, you'll just fade into obscurity.

　"Try it, you loser, Yukihira-kun."

　Looking at Soma Yukihira again, Erina Nakiri's gaze softened considerably. After all, she couldn't muster much hostility towards a little dog who had lost the match and could only wag its tail and beg for mercy.

　As she spoke, she handed him the plate containing the Harvest Symphony.

　"A loser?"

　"Hehe, I was indeed the loser in this match, but I won't stay a loser forever. Just like last time I lost to Liu Yu, I won back this time, didn't I?"

　Taking the plate from Erina Nakiri, Soma Yukihira looked up at the sky, thinking that having lost once, he would no longer hate the taste of defeat.

　Unfortunately, the unforgettable pain emanating from his heart made him realize that he could never truly let go.

　Then let's carry on with this grief!

　Holding the plate and spoon, Yukihira Soma began to eat heartily. The moment his mouth touched the food, he experienced the magical flavors. The taste of corn, sweet potatoes, and other grains spread across his tongue, delicate and mellow, making it worth closing his eyes to savor the experience.

　"Is this what they call molecular gastronomy? Breaking down and reconstructing ingredients, combining them with other flavors, and ultimately creating an unparalleled taste."

　Opening his eyes and looking at Erina Nakiri, Soma Yukihira's voice was filled with admiration: What amazing technique!

　Is this your real source of confidence?

　Using high-tech equipment, we can create flavors that are absolutely impossible to achieve under normal circumstances.

　Looking up at Erina Nakiri, Soma Yukihira's voice held a questioning tone.

　"Real confidence? That's laughable. Molecular gastronomy isn't my forte; it's just that this dish happened to require it, so I used it."

　I could make the same taste using other methods, but they would be more complicated and take longer, making them unsuitable for competitions. Therefore, I chose this cooking method.

　In response to Soma Yukihira's words, Erina Nakiri raised an eyebrow. This was never her confidence; it was merely one of the many cooking techniques she had mastered.

　"I see. It seems I've truly lost completely this time."

　Upon hearing Erina Nakiri's words, Soma Yukihira's expression froze for a moment, then he gave a wry smile.

　I thought I had lost to molecular gastronomy, but it turns out I lost to Erina Nakiri.

　His opponent's culinary skills completely overwhelmed him; even using cooking techniques he wasn't very familiar with, the opponent could surpass him.

　but...

　That's what makes it exciting, isn't it?

　The Elite Ten of Totsuki Academy all possess such strength; just thinking about it makes my body tremble with excitement!

　"I hope to have another match with you in the future."

　After saying this, Soma Yukihira resolutely walked towards the contestant's passage, while Alice Nakiri, who was in Bai Yuan's arms, also stood up and glanced at the time on her phone.

　"In two hours, it will be time for the main characters on the field to change, let's make the atmosphere even more exciting!"

　Standing up and stretching, Alice Nakiri glanced at the judges who were taking a break and the audience members who had dispersed from the front row, her face burning with fierce fighting spirit.

　"Your opponent is Zhu Yan. If you play normally, the chances of losing are very low, but you can't be careless."

　"Don't worry, I'll give it my all this time, except for not using molecular gastronomy. Consider it revenge for Xiaohui!"

　As she spoke, Alice Nakiri glanced at Megumi Tadokoro sitting behind Shirobuchi, her voice carrying a hint of exhilaration.

　Avenging one's own sister is such a righteous act; just thinking about it makes one's blood boil!

　"Thanks..."

　When Alice Nakiri suddenly mentioned it, Megumi Tadokoro was taken aback for a moment, then thanked her quietly. Although she didn't need this kind of help, it would be rude of her to speak up and spoil the mood since the other party had already finished speaking.

　"You're welcome. I'll head to the players' lounge now, Brother Bai Yuan."

　"Go."

　Looking at the girl's bright back, Bai Yuan's eyes were like those of an old father watching his daughter grow up.

　He had been by her side throughout her journey, and it could be said that the bond between Alice Nakiri and him was the deepest in the harem.

　"Then I'll accept the position in Boss Bai's arms!"

　Seeing that Bai Yuan's eyes were always fixed on Nakiri Alice, Lia, who was sitting next to him, couldn't help but feel a little jealous. She then leaned half of her body against him and rolled her head in his arms.

　"Hehe, Boss Bai's embrace is so warm, let me take it."

　As they were talking, Lia was no longer satisfied with just leaning against him. She stood up from her seat. Compared to the large Alice Nakiri, she was much smaller. When she sat on Bai Yuan's lap, her head only reached his eye level.

　"Indeed, Boss Bai's embrace is the most comfortable!"

　Feeling the faint warmth beneath her, Leah said with a slight blush.

　She naturally sensed the drastic change, but the back row was dimly lit, and everyone around her was one of their own, so not many people paid any attention to them.

　This feeling of sneaking around...

　So exciting!

　Her heart pounded violently. No one would have imagined that the girl who shone brightly on the glittering stage would now be sitting on a man's lap in public, resting her head on his chest.

　"excuse me."

　Seeing that Lia was so proactive, two seats next to Bai Yuan became available. Tadokoro Megumi stepped forward without hesitation and naturally sat in Lia's original seat.